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Daniel Robert Zoll

1950 - 2025

Daniel Robert Zoll obituary, 1950-2025, Silver Spring, DC

FUNERAL HOME

Francis J. Collins Funeral Home, Inc. - Silver Spring

500 University Blvd. West

Silver Spring, Maryland

Daniel Zoll Obituary

passed away on March 17, 2025. Dan was born on May 16, 1950, in Pasadena, California to Robert Otto Zoll and Betty Louise Gristy.
Dan graduated from San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara, then attended Santa Barbara City College before transferring to San Jose State University. He lived in Okayama City, Japan, as an exchange student where he studied traditional arts such as Bizen pottery, judo, aikido, and calligraphy. He married Yoko Hagihara in 1975, then attended the University of Hawaii to earn a Master of Arts in Asian Languages and Literature as well as a Master of Library Science.
He then moved to Tokyo working as a freelance translator and editor, and developed an interest in computers—and when he was offered a position at the National Library of Medicine, he moved his family back to the U.S. in 1985 to live in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
Dan then transferred to the Division of Computer Research and Technology at the National Institutes of Health as a Computer Specialist. He created and ran a publication there about computer hardware and software, and was presented an award for "Recognition and Appreciation of Sustained High Quality Work Performance."
He left NIH in 2000 and worked as a Computer Specialist/Web Developer in the mountains of Berkeley County, West Virginia until his retirement. He loved being in the mountains; he said it was "almost heaven." During this time, he enjoyed tending to the fish in the koi pond he built, gardening, birdwatching, and listening to music—especially bluegrass.
Dan was preceded in death by his parents, Betty and Robert, and his son, Michael M. Zoll. He is survived by his daughters, Erica S. Bruno and Lisa W. Solecki, and his grandchildren, Julian, Claudia, and Annika.
A private family ceremony will take place on March 23 under the direction of Collins Funeral Home in Silver Spring, Maryland.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Washington Post on Mar. 23, 2025.

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2 Entries

Kamran

July 4, 2025

Dan was very smart and funny. He liked to say outrageous things and watch for your reaction. When he first came to the company in West Virginia, was very shy. But I think he came out of his shell and had many friends there until he retired.
Use ago he took two cats from me when I was trying to rehome a whole bunch and he was so kind to them but he'd never had cats before I don't think in their antics amazed him. I know he was very proud of his kids too. I lost touch with him.
He was truly one of a kind and is not easy to forget.
I'm so sorry for your loss and I hope the time can heal some of the sorrow.

John N Bell

March 23, 2025

I am sorry to learn of Mr. Zoll's passing. I did not have the pleasure of knowing him. However, I did have the good forture to know Yoko Hagihara (Zoll), who mas my Japanese language sensei at the U.S. Department of Agriculture some years ago. She was one of the best language teachers I knew. She famously called me the "Amazon no ikinokori" (), or "amazon survivor," because I had taken a rough and tumble tour of the Peruvian Amazon. I miss those fun and interesting language classes. Zoll sensei, I hope that you are well and that you will be able to grieve this loss but come out of it embracing he beauty of life. Sincerely, John Bell, Arlington, Virginia, [email protected]

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Funeral services provided by:

Francis J. Collins Funeral Home, Inc. - Silver Spring

500 University Blvd. West, Silver Spring, MD 20901

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